Chapter 10: Stab
In the streets of Tokonosu City, a once-bustling metropolis now shrouded in chaos and despair, Naruto navigated the desolate streets with a sense of purpose. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the distant groans of the undead echoed through the alleyways. Armed with his trusty knife and a limited supply of ammunition, Naruto was determined to protect Kenji Maresato and his young daughter, Alice, as they sought refuge from the relentless hordes of zombies that had overrun their city.
As they moved cautiously through the debris-strewn streets, Naruto's military training kicked in. He had honed his close-quarters combat (CQC) skills during his time in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and now those skills were proving invaluable. With swift precision, he dispatched any zombies that crossed their path—each movement calculated and efficient. The blade glinted under the dim streetlights as he slashed through decaying flesh, ensuring that every strike counted while conserving his precious ammunition for emergencies.
Kenji watched in awe as Naruto effortlessly eliminated wave after wave of zombies. It wasn't long before recognition dawned on him. "You're former Lieutenant Naruto Namikaze of the Special Forces Group," he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "The Japan's war hero from the War in Afghanistan!"
Naruto paused for a moment but did not turn to face Kenji. "I am that person," he replied tersely, "but I'm no war hero. Just a survivor trying to stay alive." His focus remained unwavering; there was no room for sentimentality in this new world. "How did you know I was a soldier and war hero?"
"I was a reporter myself," Kenji told him. "I once cover news years back during the War on Terror."
Alice clutched her father's hand tightly, her wide eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "Where's my mom?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Naruto's heart sank at her question. He could see the innocence in her gaze—the hope that perhaps her mother was safe somewhere nearby. He hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully. "Your mother is somewhere safe where the zombies won't get her," he said without looking at her directly. "Right now, my focus is to get you both to safety."
"I know a place," Kenji whispered urgently. "A friend's house nearby. We can lay low until morning." His eyes darted around nervously as he recalled memories of safer times before everything fell apart. "We need to keep moving until we reach Rika Minami's place!" Naruto insisted.
"It's getting dark," Kenji counter. "And it will be more dangerous if we stays in the streets. Plus, we may needs some food, since out food supply is limited.
Naruto considered this for a moment but felt an urge to keep pushing onward toward Rika Minami's place—where he was sure Shizuka , Kyoko , and the others are safe. However, he understood Kenji's desire for safety, especially for his daughter.
"Alright," Naruto finally conceded after weighing their options against time and resources. "Lead the way."
With Kenji guiding them through narrow passages and hidden routes, they managed to evade larger groups of zombies. Alice clung tightly to her father's hand, her wide eyes reflecting both fear and trust in Naruto's abilities. The trio moved like phantoms under the cover of darkness until they finally reached Kenji's friend's house—a modest structure that seemed untouched from the outside.
However, upon entering, their hopes were dashed. The interior was ransacked; furniture overturned and belongings strewn about painted a grim picture of what had transpired here. Kenji's heart sank as he surveyed the destruction; this was supposed to be their sanctuary.
Suddenly, without warning, they were surrounded by a group of armed men clad in black robes. The glint of weapons caught Naruto's eye as he instinctively positioned himself between Kenji and Alice. Tension crackled in the air as one man stepped forward—draped in red robes—and addressed Kenji directly.
"Ah, Kenji! What took you so long," he said with an unsettling grin.
Kenji's confusion deepened as he stared at this stranger who seemed to know him yet remained unfamiliar. Meanwhile, Alice, who feels intimidated by this man's cruel face, hugs her father tightly for protection.
"Who are you?" Kenji demanded cautiously.
It was then that Kenji noticed something horrifying—a body lying lifelessly in another room. Recognition hit him like a freight train; it was his friend—the very person whose house they sought refuge in.
"Tai!" Kenji cried out in horror before staring at the leader and demanded "Did you killed him?"
"Of course we killed him, "the leader sneered. "He stolen something from us. Something that belongs to the Brotherhood of Rebirth!"
"Brotherhood of Rebirth?" Naruto repeated, looking confused. Looking at Kenji, he noticed Kenji's shocked look on his face.
"You're the Brotherhood of Rebirth? Kenji reacted in horror. "The one Tai was investigating them."
"Who are they?" Naruto questioned Kenji.
"We are a peaceful religious group," the leader explains. "We preach equality, peace, brotherhood, and love within man, and the hope for a better world."
"If you are a peaceful religious group, then why are you pointing guns at us?" Naruto pointed out.
Just then, an ear-piercing shriek echoed from outside—the unmistakable sound of zombies converging on their location. The men exchanged nervous glances as realization dawned upon them that they were no longer safe either.
"Run!" Naruto shouted instinctively as he grabbed Alice's hand while pushing Kenji forward toward an exit at the back of the house.
The chaos erupted almost instantaneously; zombies began breaking through windows and doors as if drawn by some primal instinct for flesh. In that moment of distraction among the armed men who were now caught between two threats—the living and the undead—Naruto seized the opportunity.
With unparalleled speed and skill honed from years of training and experience in battle scenarios far more complex than this one, Naruto launched into action. He engaged several armed men with swift strikes while simultaneously guiding Kenji and Alice toward safety.
"Keep moving!" he urged them as he dispatched another attacker with a well-placed kick before turning back to face more incoming zombies that threatened to overwhelm them all.
The trio managed to slip out through a side door just as chaos erupted inside—the sounds of gunfire mixed with growls filled their ears as they fled into the night once more.
Once outside in the relative safety of darkness away from immediate danger but still surrounded by lurking threats in every shadowy corner, they took refuge behind an abandoned car parked along the street.
"We need to find somewhere else," Kenji panted heavily while keeping Alice close against him. "Somewhere safer."
"We are going straight to Rika's place," Naruto said firmly. "But first, I need to know more about those men back at that house."
Kenji swallowed hard before responding. "As I said before I am a reporter—as included my friend Tai. Tai was investigating something big." He paused, glancing at Alice, who clutched her father's hand tightly. "Tai told me about a doomsday cult called the Brotherhood of Rebirth."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet concerned. "What do you mean? What's their agenda?"
Kenji took a deep breath as they continued walking cautiously down a narrow alleyway littered with debris. "According to Tai's investigations, the Brotherhood is worldwide—millions of followers praying for a day when the world will be reborn into a new Eden." He recalled how fervently Tai had spoken about their activities and how they seemed to be gaining power.
"Two weeks ago," Kenji continued, "Tai got a tip-off that he was onto something significant regarding the Brotherhood. He left for America to follow up on it." His voice trembled slightly as he remembered the urgency in Tai's tone during their last conversation.
"What did he say?" Naruto pressed on as they ducked behind an overturned car to avoid detection from a nearby group of zombies.
"He called me last night," Kenji replied hurriedly. "He sounded panicked—said that the Brotherhood is insane and trying to kill everyone in the whole world! But he also mentioned he had stolen something they desperately needed back."
Naruto's mind raced with questions; he wanted to ask what exactly Tai had stolen and what it meant for them all—but just then, he spotted more zombies shuffling toward them from around the corner.
"We need to move fast!" Naruto urged as he pulled out his weapon and prepared for confrontation. "Before—"
A gunshot was heard, loud enough to cover whole city block and beyond. And in that moment, Kenji Maresato fell dead.
"DADDY!" Alice scream at the sight of her father's death.
More shots were fired at Naruto's direction. Naruto can't yell where the shots were coming from. But he knew standing around, out in opening is not that smart. Grabbing, Alice in his arms, he made run for it.
0o0o0
Naruto and Alice Maresato navigated through the shadows, their hearts pounding with fear. The once vibrant city was now a haunting landscape filled with remnants of a life that had been abruptly shattered by the zombie apocalypse. The air was thick with tension as they moved cautiously, every sound amplified in the stillness of the night.
Alice's eyes wide with terror. The memory of her father's death replayed in her mind like a nightmare she couldn't escape. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered to Naruto, "Why did this happen? Why did daddy has to die?"
Naruto felt a deep pang of guilt wash over him. He had promised himself that he would protect Alice at all costs, yet here they were—running for their lives while he failed to save her father. The weight of his own actions pressed heavily on his conscience; he had been forced to take Alice's mother's life just hours earlier when she began to turn into one of those monsters. He couldn't bear to tell Alice what had happened; it would only add to her pain.
"Hey," he said softly, trying to comfort her despite his own turmoil. "We're going to be okay. I'm taking you to a friend's place where it's safe."
Alice looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, searching for reassurance in his expression. "Where are we going?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Rika's apartment," Naruto replied, forcing a smile despite the dread that loomed over them. He hoped that Takashi, Shizuka, Kyoko, and the others would be there waiting for them—a glimmer of hope in this dark world.
As they continued down the street, Naruto noticed a small dog trailing behind them. It was scruffy and dirty but seemed determined to keep up with their pace. For a moment, he considered stopping to help it; however, his mind was too clouded with thoughts of Alice's grief and his own guilt.
Suddenly, their path was blocked by a large mob of zombies shuffling toward them from around the corner—groans echoing through the night air like an ominous warning bell. Panic surged through Naruto as he grabbed Alice's hand tightly.
"Run!" he shouted urgently as they dashed toward the nearest house—a dilapidated structure that looked like it hadn't been lived in for years.
"Stay close to me, Alice," Naruto whispered, glancing around nervously. Alice nodded, her eyes wide with fear but filled with trust for the brave man beside her.
As they turned a corner, they spotted a house with its lights still on. "Maybe we can find shelter there," Naruto said, pointing at the house. They approached carefully, feeling the weight of the night air. Naruto knocked on the door and called out, "Is anyone there? We need help! "
After a moment, a voice came from inside. "Go away! We don't want any trouble! "
Naruto frowned, his patience wearing thin. "Please, we're just looking for a safe place to stay. There are zombies out here! "
The voice responded again, now sharper, "We can't risk letting you in. It's too dangerous! "
Frustrated, Naruto felt anger bubble inside him. "If you don't let us in, I will shoot the door down! " he shouted, raising his gun to show he was serious.
Alice's heart raced. Her small hands trembled at Naruto's threat. Suddenly, they heard a bolt click, and the door opened slightly. "Okay, okay! Come in," the survivor said reluctantly.
Naruto sighed with relief and thanked them as he pushed the door open. However, as they stepped inside, a figure lurked in the shadows. In a sudden move, the survivor lunged forward and stabbed Naruto with a sharp knife.
"No! " Alice screamed, her voice echoing in the dim room.
In shock, Naruto felt the cold pain but quickly turned heart raced as he raised his gun and fired at the attacker.
0o0o0
As the sun began to set, casting an orange hue over the desolate cityscape, Takashi Komuro led his group of survivors through the eerily quiet streets. The once-bustling metropolis was now a haunting reminder of what had been lost. Takashi, along with Kyoko Hayashi, Rei Miyamoto, Saeko Busujima, Saya Takagi, Kohta Hirano, and Shizuka Marikawa had faced countless dangers since the outbreak began. Their mission was clear: reach Rika's apartment and find safety.
As they approached Rika's building, a sense of foreboding washed over them. The sight that greeted them was shocking—dozens of zombies lay sprawled on the ground, lifeless and grotesque. Each one bore a deep stab wound to the skull, indicating a skilled hand at work. Saya squinted at the scene before her and remarked incredulously, "Who could have done this?"
Rei scanned their surroundings for any signs of life or danger. "It looks like someone took care of these monsters," she said thoughtfully. "But who? And where are they now?"
The group cautiously made their way toward the entrance of the building, stepping over the fallen corpses. A trail of blood caught Kohta's attention; it led directly to Rika's apartment door. "This can't be good," he muttered as they followed the crimson path.
With hearts pounding in their chests, they reached Rika's door and exchanged nervous glances before Takashi pushed it open. What they found inside was both shocking and heartwarming—a familiar face awaited them.
"Naruto!" Shizuka exclaimed as she rushed into the room, her medical instincts kicking in immediately upon seeing him slumped against the wall with a stab wound to his heart. Beside him sat a small girl no older than seven years old named Alice and a small dog that seemed to be guarding her.
Alice looked up with tear-filled eyes and pleaded desperately, "Please help him! He saved us!"
Shizuka knelt beside Naruto and quickly assessed his condition. Her heart raced as she examined the wound; while serious, it wasn't immediately fatal. "He needs medical attention fast!" she ordered firmly but calmly.
"Kohta! Find me some bandages!" Shizuka instructed while checking Naruto's pulse—weak but present.
Saya moved closer to Alice and asked gently, "What happened here?"
Alice sniffled as she recounted how Naruto had fought off hordes of zombies to protect her after he got stab. She explained how he had managed to fend off the undead attackers and took her in this apartment before he black out to his injuries.
Meanwhile, Saeko surveyed their surroundings for anything useful that could aid in treating Naruto's wound. "We need antiseptics and more supplies," she said decisively.
Kyoko stepped forward with determination in her eyes. "I'll help you look," she said to Saeko as they began rummaging through drawers and cabinets in search of medical supplies.
Rei stood guard by the door while Kohta searched frantically for anything that could help stabilize Naruto until Shizuka could treat him properly.
As time passed slowly amidst their frantic efforts, Shizuka worked diligently on Naruto's wound while reassuring Alice that everything would be alright. The little girl clutched her dog tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Stay with me, Naruto," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "You can't leave me like this."
After what felt like an eternity filled with tension and uncertainty, Shizuka finally managed to clean and bandage Naruto's wound effectively enough to prevent further blood loss. She leaned back on her heels with exhaustion but relief flooding through her veins at having stabilized him for now.
"Is he going to be okay?" Alice asked timidly as she watched Shizuka closely.
"He will be fine," Shizuka assured her softly but firmly. "He just needs rest."
Yet deep down, Shizuka felt an overwhelming rush of emotions flood through her: joy intertwined with sorrow and regret. He was here; he was alive! But beneath that joy lay an unshakeable truth—she had almost lost him forever. It was good thing they arrived on time, otherwise he would bleed to death, due to the knife wound on his chest, and Shizuka would undergo another emotional grief, tenfold. She been carrying the guilt of leaving him behind back at the school, due of Shido's lies. Now that he alive and safe, she made a promise to never leave Naruto again.